Today I'm sharing a card that I'm entering in a couple of challenges:

I'm not normally one for such pastel colours unless it's a baby card, however I thought I would combine this week's colour palette over at Pals Paper Arts with the great sketch over at CAS(E) This Sketch this week and create a card suitable for a wedding or engagement. Take a look:

I decided to feature the Congratulations sentiment from 'Your Perfect Day' as the centrepiece for my card, adorned with a couple of the floral flourishes from the 'Flowering Flourishes' set in each corner. I turned the sketch on its side as I needed my card to be landscape in order to fit my sentiment on. I stamped the sentiment in Soft Sky and coloured the flourishes with my Stampin' Write markers in each of the challenge colours, adding a few tiny pearls to the flower stamens. I used a piece of Soft Sky for my mat and stamped the whole card on Whisper White; this card looks more vibrant in real life - I find predominantly white cards so tricky to photograph. 

Short and sweet from me today - lots to do before attending an Easter Concert this afternoon where both James Juniors are singing and performing piano recitals. I will be back shortly with news of some additional Sale-A-Bration items that will be available free with a £45 spend until the end of the month. until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Your Perfect Day Photopolymer Stamp Set	Flowering Flourishes Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad	Card Stock A4 Soft Sky	Whisper White A4 Card Stock
Subtles Stampin' Write Markers	2013-2015 In Color Stampin' Write Markers	Basic Pearls Jewel Accents	Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

Happy Monday everyone! No card today - I'm sharing a little 3D project for a change. Last week I was booked to craft with a local Brownie pack to help them make gifts for Mother's Day. I know a few of the Brownies - and mums! - so couldn't share our little project until today, for fear of letting their secret out of the bag. Now we all know that with a special gift it's as much about the packaging as what's inside, so this is what our gifts looked like from the outside:

Each girl had one of the Tiny Treat Boxes to decorate with papers from the All Aboom DSP stack - so pretty for spring - and one covered, each box was finished with a colour-co-ordinated bow made using the Bow Builder punch. We had great fun making these - and used hundreds of glue dots in the process!! Inside the box, it opened to reveal:

Each of them made a delicate silver necklace using one of the Simply Borrowed Embellishments for decoration, beautifully presented on a co-ordinated cardstock insert. How pretty is that? The girls were so pleased with their handiwork and all smuggled them home to keep them as a surprise until yesterday. I had lots of messages from mums today who were thrilled with their gifts, so I think we can safely say it was a job well done!

I love crafting with children, whether my own, when running children's birthday parties or in larger groups such as this. If you live in or around Northampton and would like more information about children's parties or running a Crafty Owl activity for a larger group such as a Brownie or Girl Guide group, then do get in touch - I would love to discuss options with you.

That's all from me today; back tomorrow with a card for you. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Bow Builder Punch	All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack	Tiny Treat Boxes	Something Borrowed Embellishments	Mini Glue Dots
Island Indigo A4 Card Stock	So Saffron A4 Card Stock

It's Sunday - my favourite day of the week! Why? Well, I usually get a cup of tea in bed before I start my day (and I definitely will today, as it's Mother's Day here in the UK) and it's time for our new challenge over at The Paper Players. This week the hugely talented Ann has a great clean and simple challenge for us:

I love CAS cards and decided that this week's challenge was the perfect opportunity to use my Lotus Blossom stamp that I received during the current Sale-A-Bration promotion. I also paired it with the colours over at Color Throwdown this week as I just love the purples and green of the inspiration photo - here is my card:

This set has been the most popular of all the Sale-A-Bration promotional items that you can receive free with a £45 spend amongst my customers and whilst I've used mine to demonstrate how to stamp the flower to my customers on a number of occasions, this is the first time I've actually used it to make a card - shocking! It's a great flower and perfect for CAS cards. I stamped the sentiment and my first image of the flower in Elegant Eggplant and the same for the second one, having stamped off first. I then stamped the third solid image in Perfect Plum. I used Old Olive for my stem and then stamped the first image again in Versamark, and overstamped the sentiment in Versamark too and heat embossed both of them in clear embossing powder. Try as I might I couldn't get it to show up in the photo, but this does look lovely in real life with a lovely glossy sheen and it adds a little texture to the flower. I matted my stamped panel on a piece of Elegant Eggplant cardstock and a Whisper White base, which really allows my blossom to take centre stage. To finish, I added a trio of pearls that I coloured with the darkest of my Wisteria Wonder Blendabilities (I'm not ready to part with these just yet, even though they are sadly no longer available). If the Lotus Blossom stamp is still on your wish list, you have until the end of March to receive it free with a £45 spend - 16 days left, so don't leave it too late. 

There are a whole host of amazing floral CAS cards from the Design Team this week; do pop by their blogs and take a look:

I look forward to seeing your floral CAS creations in our gallery this week. 

I am off for a morning of hockey and then hopefully home to roast dinner cooked by the men in our house! Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Lotus Blossom Photopolymer Stamp Set	Elegant Eggplant Classic Stampin' Pad	Perfect Plum Classic Stampin' Pad	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad	Elegant Eggplant A4 Card Stock
Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Versamark Pad	Embossing Buddy	Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder	Heat Tool - Uk Plug
Basic Pearls Jewel Accents

It's the weekend but no signs of my week slowing down yet! I had a great Stampin' Up! party hosted by the lovely Lucy yesterday and today we visited a science fair and Ben played basketball on his school team at the county quarter finals this evening. So just time for a quick post with a card I made for this week's Mojo Monday challenge: 

This is the first sketch designed by Wanda Cullen and I think it's great (go Wanda!) I decided it was the perfect layout for me to cut into one of my favourite pieces of paper in my Painted Blooms DSP pack - here is my card: 

I used Soft Sky for my base and matted my paper on a piece of Blackberry Bliss to give a thin border, then layered a paper pierced circle, a piece of Blackberry Bliss satin ribbon and my layered sentiment circle, where I over-stamped the tulips with my thank you, before finally adding my Crushed Curry thinlit butterfly. I just love the detail of the sentiment and the dramatic bright yellow butterfly on this card - here's a close up: 

Love it! That's all from me today; back tomorrow with this week's card for our new challenge over at The Paper Players. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper	Painted Petals Clear Stamp Set	Butterflies Thinlits Dies	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Big Shot Magnetic Platform
Circles Collection Framelits Dies	Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack	Paper-Piercing Tool	1-3/4 Inch Circle Punch	Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin' Pad
Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad	Rose Red Classic Stampin' Pad

I'm a little late this week but here's my post featuring this week's new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! This week's deals are included below - they will be available for one week only, until 11pm next Tuesday, before a new collection of deals is announced.

As always, if you want to take advantage of any of the deals on offer, you can support my business by placing your order online by clicking here or using the link to my store on the right hand side of my blog page where it says 'Shop Online' or with me in person. Don't forget to add the Hostess Code for March (you can find this under the 'Shop Online' section on the right) and be sure to make sure that you don't check the 'no contact' box if you'd like to be kept updated with the progress of you order and receive a little thank you in the post from me. 

Here's a summary of this week's one-week only Wednesday deals - click on each item to go to the online store to purchase:

Bermuda Bay Baker's Twine	Elegant Butterfly Punch	Gold Stampin' Glitter	Old Olive Baker's Twine
Smoky Slate 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon	Wildflower Meadow Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Wildflower Meadow Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Today I'm sharing another of the cards that we made at my Monthly Technique Class yesterday, featuring the Indescribable Gift stamp set. This was the simplest of the cards we made, and features the 'spotlight' technique:

The basic idea is that you stamp your chosen image, then stamp it again a second time and punch out one area of the image that you would like to highlight and this is the piece you colour. I kept the layout of my card simple and highlighted one area of the blossom stem and coloured this with my Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi and Crumb Cake Blendabilties. Here's a close up of my spotlighted element: 

Another simple, yet effective technique that is perfect with an outlined stamp image. I love the sentiment on this card too - there's something very uplifting about it. If you live in or around Northampton and are either a keen cardmaker or someone interested in learning new techniques, my technique classes next month will be held on the 13th and 14th of April and will be featuring masking, sponging and reflection techniques using the stamp set 'Lovely As a Tree'. Full class details here - do get in touch for information and to book your place.

Before I sign off today, I wanted to share with you an important news announcement from Stampin' Up! today regarding the future of our Blendabilties product line. As some of you may be aware, there have been some quality issues with our alcohol markers. Following investigations with the manufacturer, a manufacturing problem has been identified that has resulted in damage to the fine nibs. As a company, Stampin' Up! prides itself on the quality of our products and since the incidence of failure is now outside of acceptable levels and the manufacturer is unable to guarantee a swift solution to the problem, it is with regret that the line is to be stopped with immediate effect in order to prevent further disappointment. If anyone has any issues with Blendabilities purchased from me, do get in touch so that I can arrange an exchange or refund. Meanwhile, I have some cards made and not yet blogged that use them that I will continue to share, although alas you will be unable to purchase the markers if you don't already own them. On the up side, the full range of Stampin' Write markers are unaffected and offer a wealth of colouring opportunities.

Back tomorrow with this week's Wednesday Deals and a new project.

Until then, happy stampin!

Stampin' Up Supplies Used:

Indescribable Gift Clear Stamp Set	Pink Pirouette A4 Card Stock	Basic Black A4 Card Stock	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
1-3/4 Inch Circle Punch

Happy Monday everyone! This is the start of the busiest week for me - classes, parties and a number of family commitments - so I'll do my best  to keep up with my blogging schedule. Today I'm sharing one of the cards that I'm making with my ladies in my technique class this week - an oval shaped card, using an interesting vellum technique. Here's my card:

I saw this neat technique where you stamp your image on vellum then rub the back of the image with a round ended stylus to 'colour' it in a video tutorial by Deb Valder here. I used Pink Pirouette for my background, then layered the vellum before adding my black border, cut with the largest shaped oval framelit which I paper-pierced around the edge. I needed a sympathy card for my box, so used a sentiment from the 'Bloom With Hope' set, which I cut out with the Banners framelits, and a little bow to soften the card front. I really like the effect of the vellum - it looks slightly 'raised' following the rubbing and adds a feeling of texture to the card. 

I'm looking forward to making this card with my ladies this afternoon and then this evening I'm off to craft with a group of Brownies and then Girl Guides - I'll share these projects later in the week.

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Indescribable Gift Clear Stamp Set	Jet Black Stazon Pad	Big Shot Magnetic Platform	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Occasions Paper-Piercing Pack
Paper-Piercing Tool	Stampin' Pierce Mat	Ovals Collection Framelits Dies	Pink Pirouette 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon	White Vellum A4 Card Stock
Pink Pirouette A4 Card Stock	Basic Black A4 Card Stock

Yay it's Sunday and time for another challenge over at The Paper Players. This week it is the turn of the lovely Anne Marie, who has a light and bright colour challenge combo for us:

Laurie's challenge last week has put me firmly in the mood for spring and these colours immediately got me thinking along similar lines. I decided I would have some fun and create an Easter card with a difference - I made a slider card using the 'For Peep's Sake' Easter stamp set. So lots of photos for you today -here's the first one of the outside:

A Crumb Cake base decorated with eggs and a cute little trio of Easter characters stamped using my Stampin' Write markers on Whisper White and fussy cut out, adhered behind some Wild Wasabi grass cut using my fringe scissors - one of this week's Weekly Deals, in case you're thinking of picking up a pair - then you pull the ribbon top to reveal the 'Eggscellent' Easter message and the little chick: 

Here's a close up of the sentiment:

Followed by a close up of that cute little chick with his own message on the slide out portion above:

Isn't he so cute? This was such a fun card to make and I think looks lovely in this week's colours. So which stamp set will you reach for to create with these colours? Before you reach for your ink pads, do visit the other design team members to see what interesting ideas they've had this week:

I look forward to seeing how you interpret this colour combination in our gallery this week. 

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Wild Wasabi A4 Card Stock	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	For Peeps' Sake Clear Stamp Set	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad	Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock
Subtles Stampin' Write Markers	2013-2015 In Color Stampin' Write Markers	Crisp Cantaloupe Thick Baker's Twine	Wild Wasabi 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon	So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad
Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad	Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin' Pad	Fringe Scissors

I've been busy working with my 'Indescribable Gift' stamp set as it is the stamp set that I'll be using in my technique class this month so I decided to use it to create a card for this week's Mojo Monday challenge:

I thought the circle would make a great space for the apple blossom to peek through - take a look:

I used a base of Pink Pirouette and matted it with a piece of the 'Irresistibly Yours' embossed paper - free with an order of £45 or more before the end of March - that I had sponged with Pink Pirouette ink, to add a little interest but not detract from my flower branch. I used Wild Wasabi for the panel and having stamped the blossom onto Whisper White, I coloured it with my Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi and Crumb Cake Blendabilities and fussy cut it out. I then positioned it through the aperture and and finally added my sentiment panel across the bottom.

This card was not quick to create - the fussy cutting took a while! - but it was well worth it. I love the finished effect.

Back tomorrow with my card for this week's new Paper Player's challenge. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Indescribable Gift Clear Stamp Set	Irresistibly Yours Specialty Designer Series Paper	Pink Pirouette A4 Card Stock	Wild Wasabi A4 Card Stock	Whisper White A4 Card Stock
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad	Project Life Corner Punch	Pink Pirouette Classic Stampin' Pad

Aren't you all lucky - this is my second post of the day! I have another card to share with you that I would like to link up with this week's CAS(E) This Sketch challenge and The Color Throwdown:

I love that block-striped welly boot and I thought these colours would be perfect for a masculine birthday card that would totally work with the sketch and my 'Hello You' thinlit dies. Here's my card:

I used Crumb Cake for my base and the 'happy' thinlit, and inset the thinlit into a panel of Real Red and Night of Navy, with Tempting Turquoise centres. I then stamped the 'Birthday To You' on the red panel in Night of Navy. A couple of epoxy stars - love these! - one backed with turquoise, one backed with gold foil, and a Navy candy dot finished off my card. I love this card - I think I'm going to have to make a few more of these!

Back tomorrow with another project; until then happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Crazy About You Photopolymer Bundle	Itty Bitty Accents Epoxy Stickers	Gold Foil Sheets	Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad
Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock	Real Red A4 Card Stock	Tempting Turquoise A4 Card Stock	Regals Candy Dots